El Paso County Commissioners select out-of-town law firm for representation

El Paso County Commissioners chose to spend about $25,000 more on an out-of-town law firm, instead of hiring a local one, to represent the county in its upcoming collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the El Paso County Sheriff's Officers Association.

Those in favor of the selection stressed that the out-of-town firm has more experience in public contract negotiations, while the two opponents said they would prefer to go local and save money.

The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted 3-2 in favor of selecting Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde and Zech, which has offices in San Antonio, Harlingen and Austin. The out-of-town firm was selected over local firm Kemp Smith LLP.

The county now will negotiate a contract with the law firm. Escobar said she hopes it can be finalized within a week or two because a new agreement with the sheriff's association must be in place Sept. 30.

Representatives of Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde and Zech told the county that it would cost about $40,000 for representation. Kemp Smith estimated a bill in the $10,000-$15,000 range.

Both the County Attorney's Office and the County's Human Resources Department recommended Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde and Zech.

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"My vote is for the out-of-town firm because of their vast experience with these types of negotiations," Escobar said. "I would rather spend ($40,000) on the front end and get a good deal than have to spend more over the course of the next five years."

The last time the sheriff's association negotiated with the county was seven years ago. The county auditor's office estimated that the current collective bargaining agreement has cost the county more than $400 million over five years.

Leon said the Kemp Smith firm was highly qualified and more than capable of representing the county.

"We have a chance to vote for a local firm that will be just as effective as an out-of-town firm for a better price," Leon said during the meeting.

Lewis agreed with Leon and said that a negotiator from Kemp Smith would have better resources because he or she would be in El Paso and have access to the county.

"This local firm can do just as good of a job," Lewis said. "We always talk about growing our own, so lets do it."

Commissioners Perez and Abeln sided with Escobar. Abeln confirmed with the county auditors that the $25,000 difference was "financially insignificant," in the county budget.

"A company that has negotiated multiple public service contracts is going to have significantly better experience," Abeln said.

Perez said the out-of-town firm's lead negotiator, Ricardo Navarro, is a former county attorney and referenced multiple public contracts on which he has worked, while the Kemp Smith negotiator, Gerry Howard, could only reference one private contract.

Denton, Navarro, Rocha, Bernal, Hyde and Zech was hired by the City of El Paso to negotiate with the El Paso Firemen and Policemen's Pension Fund. The firm was also the firm the City of Socorro hired when it tried to annex San Elizario, but Perez said is confident there is no conflict of interest.

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